title: Clinical benefits of 7 years of treatment with omalizumab in severe uncontrolled asthmatics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Severe asthma is characterized by inadequate symptom control and by high rate of inflammation despite high doses of steroids. Omalizumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal anti-IgE, provides a new therapeutic strategy in severe allergic asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed to assess whether long-term treatment with omalizumab improved clinical control in severe asthmatics.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated omalizumab effects on asthma outcomes evaluating seven severe allergic asthmatic patients who were treated for 7 years with add-on omalizumab. Number of exacerbations, use of antibiotics, additional asthma medications (systemic steroids, nebulized steroids and bronchodilators), and spirometry were analyzed before and after omalizumab treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Omalizumab was well tolerated by all the studied patients. It improved FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio and reduced symptom score, asthma exacerbations, use of antibiotics, and use of nebulized steroids, bronchodilators, and oral corticosteroids. These effects were evident after 4 years of treatment and more pronounced after 7 years of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study underlines the utility of a long-term treatment with omalizumab to improve asthma clinical outcomes in severe asthmatics.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology, National Research Council, Palermo, Italy. pace@ibim.cnr.it
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.forename: Andreina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chiappara
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bousquet
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gjomarkaj
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069444:Omalizumab; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069444:Omalizumab